Cleland Bulstrode Cumberlege 1875-1946 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1915 for "distinguished service in the field." Cleland was a career soldier and you can read about his career here.By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.org
CUMBERLEGE, Cleland Bulstrode, Capt., was born 5 June, 1875, at Nagpore, India, son of Colonel A.B. [Alexander Bulstrode] Cumberlege (Indian Army) and of E.F. Broadwood. He was educated at Eastbourne College, and joined the Imperial Yeomanry in Nov. 1899, for service in the South African War, 1900-1902. He served as Trooper in the Imperial Yeomanry, employed with Mounted Infantry; took part in the operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 Nov. 1900, including action at Elands River (4 to 16 Aug.); in Cape Colony, north of Orange River, including action at Fabers Put; in the Transvaal 30 Nov. 1900, to June, 1901; also in Orange River Colony, Sept. 1901, to May, 1902, (Queen’s Medal with three clasps, and King’s Medal with two clasps). He was given a commission in the Bedfordshire Regt. 27 July, 1901; became Lieutenant 23 March, 1904; Captain 1 April, 1910; was Adjutant, Militia, 22 Nov. 1911, to 30 Oct. 1914. He served in the European War, and was promoted Major 12 Nov. 1915; was Temporary Lieutenant Colonel 5 Nov. 1916, to 13 July, 1917. He was recommended for good work at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March, 1915, when he was severely wounded. He was mentioned in Despatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 23 June, 1915]: “Cleland Bulstrode Cumberlege, Capt., The Bedfordshire Regmt. For distinguished service in the field.” During the years 1895-99, and again in 1903-5, Major Cumberlege was an amateur steeplechase rider in the south of England and at military meetings. Major Cumberlege married, 19 Dec. 1905, at Wimbledon, Leila Macdonald, daughter of the late Simon Martin, Bengal Civil Service, East India Company, and they have a son, Cleland Cumberlege, born 14 Sept. 1906.
[Source: The Distinguished Service Order 1886 – 1915, Volume One, p.399]
Category: World War 1
